In 1977, Karolyn Boucher, Ruth Ellis, Diane Milbery, Elaine Paumen and Arlene Resch would put their kindergartners on the school bus in the morning and then head over to the Clearwater Travel Plaza to meet for coffee. The Friday Morning Girls’ Coffee Group was born.

 

Forty-one years later the group is still going strong.

 

Jane Gohman joined the group during its second year. The only reason she didn’t attend from the beginning was because at the time she was cashiering at the Travel Plaza’s western store. In fact, she was working the day the group met for the first time.

 

Over the years members of the group have come and gone, but its core members have remained. Along with Gohman and the five women who started it all, Rita Betzler, Jane Ergen, Barb Keigan (the last to join in 1998) and Loretta Peterson also became regulars.

 

In the beginning, the group discussed problems they were having with their young children, which moved on to preteen problems and then teenage problems. After that they began talking about health problems, men problems and parent problems. Now they talk and laugh about their own problems.

 

“This is our therapy group,” explained Resch.

 

The women share the good times and the bad. A couple of them have lost husbands, two divorced. They were there for each other when Milbery passed away suddenly in 2010.

 

“I never had sisters but I’ve got some now,” said Peterson. “When my husband died these girls were the first ones there. This is one of the things that will get you through all the phases of life.”

 

The group has a regular table they’re usually seated at and never need a menu. They joke that they try to break in new waitstaff gently. 

 

They talk about their kids, grandkids and great-grandkids, what’s going on in the area and remind each other about things they’ve forgotten. In the past, they brought printed photographs to show off, now they share pictures on their phones. 

 

They recommend and share books with each another, and someone always has raffle tickets for sale, whether it be for Camp Friendship, the Lions, school or church.

 

“We don’t gossip,” said Boucher. “We show care and concern. We’re supportive of one another.”

 

Along with their Friday morning get-togethers the women have “special events.” Tea parties have been hosted and outings to places like the Como Conservatory and the historic Heritage House Bed & Breakfast in St. Cloud have been planned. When they first started members would take turns hosting Christmas parties at their homes; today they celebrate at restaurants.

 

Members are treated on their birthdays. Ergen brings jam and Peterson gifts each with a packet of napkins.

 

“A card you could just throw away,” she explained. “Everyone can use napkins.”

 

Peterson, Betzler and Ergen are snowbirds, but they miss the Friday morning group when they’re gone so they like to keep in touch. The three of them also get together when they’re in Arizona over the winter.

 

“So far, we haven’t given away their chairs but you never know,” said Boucher.

 

Although every member can’t make it every Friday, it’s extremely rare that no one is able to. In fact, they’re such long-time regulars that Nelson Bros. Restaurant & Pub gave them each a “golden ticket” to a private dining event to show their appreciation for the group’s continued patronage of the Clearwater Travel Plaza.

 

The women plan on continuing to meet each Friday as long as they’re able. 

 

“It’s friendship,” said Peterson. “It’s an important part of our lives.”